Subsucculent herbs of small or moderate size; stems creeping below, but erect or ascending above. Leaves alternate, sheathed at the base. Inflorescence terminal or subterminal, solitary or clustered, long-pedunculate, consisting of 2 equal, greatly condensed scorpioid cymes bearing few or several rather small flowers, not subtended by paired leaf-like bracts. Sepals 3, essentially equal. Petals 3, essen- tially equal. Stamens 6, usually in 2 very dissimilar series, the outer occasionally sterile; in a few species all fertile and essentially similar. Pistil 3-celled.